'The Voice' recap: Season 9 winner revealed in star-studded finale

By ELLEN BACK

For The Baltimore Sun|

Dec 16, 2015 | 8:59 AM

Carson Daly promised an epic finale, and that's exactly what we got in the Season 9 wrapup of "The Voice." In an episode full of artist reunions, hilarious skits and awe-inspiring performances, I almost forgot about the big reveal.

But that couldn't be said for the final four contestants, who anxiously awaited the fate of their future after giving it their all in Monday night's performances. Ultimately, Team Adam's Jordan Smith won over America's hearts and was crowned the winner, defeating the odds of 17-year-old country girl Emily Ann Roberts of Blake Shelton's country mafia.

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Jeffery Austin took fourth place and Barrett Baber claimed third.

But no artist left empty-handed. In addition to winning final-four bragging rights, each singer also got keys to a sweet new car — talk about the best early Christmas present ever! But before we start getting too caught up in the gifts and glamour, let's take a minute to reminisce on last night's highlights.

If you lost count, there were 15 live performances, including celebrity duets with Usher, Tori Kelly, Ricky Skaggs and Wynonna Judd. Coldplay, The Weeknd, Sam Hunt and Justin Bieber were also some big-name artists who stopped by to show off their vocal chops. And if Missy Elliott's high-energy collaboration with coach Pharrell wasn't enough, bring-back performances like Austin's duet with Madi Davis singing Amy Winehouse's "Tears Dry on Their Own" was sure to get you bobbing your head.

The top 24 artists were also invited back on stage to kick off the show with Major Lazer and DJ Snake's "Lean On" (Ellie Lawrence was the only one missing during the on-stage reunion).

The laugh-out-loud clips of behind-the-scenes confessionals, go-kart races between the coaches, and the truth behind the country mafia conspiracy also made the finale incredibly entertaining. Now we know how big of a crybaby Gwen Stefani is and why Adam Levine was voted "The Best Coach Ever." Did he really buy one of his artists a giraffe? We'll have to ask the sharks he swam with in that underwater clip.

Regardless of who won the title, all four finalists are sure to get some major iTunes downloads. I wouldn't be surprised to see Roberts sign a record deal — even if it's with Shelton. Austin and Baber are also guaranteed to gain a loyal fan base, and all four coaches are bound to leave with a memory of unforgettable performances.

And between Levine and Shelton, the country mafia king will have to go another season listening to the Maroon 5 lead vocalist boast about his win. Next year, the return of Christina Aguilera might silence their feud. But if she doesn't do it, hopefully Pharrell will.